# Accident 20231127021579A: Cessna 172P, Las Cruces, NM, November 27, 2023

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: November 27, 2023, 10:20 local time
- Place: Las Cruces, NM
- Airport: Las Cruces International
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Landing: Touchdown
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 32.2894° N, 106.9220° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.2894&lon=-106.9220&mi=10
- Aircraft: N5495K, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N5495K) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Cessna 172P (registry code 2072436, https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172p) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming 0-320 series (registry code 41508, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172P
- Reported engine: LYCOMING 0-320 SERIES
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB WPR24LA058](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR24LA058) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20231127021579A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

ON NOVEMBER  27, 2023, AT 1020 MST, A CESSNA 172, FLOWN BY A FIXED-WING STUDENT PILOT (WHO ALSO HOLDS A COMMERCIAL PILOT CERTIFICATE-ROTORCRAFT) EXPERIENCED AN EXTREMELY HARD LANDING AT THE LAS CRUCES INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT, KLRU, WHILE ON A SOLO CROSS COUNTRY FLIGHT. NO FAA FLIGHT PLAN WAS FILED. THE AIRCRAFT SUSTAINED

SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE TO BOTH SIDES OF THE FIREWALL, BUCKLING IN THE ENGINE COWLING SHEET METAL, AND SHEET METAL DAMAGE TO THE LOWER SKIN OF THE FUSELAGE.  THE INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT THERE WERE NO MECHANICAL DEFECTS WITH THE AIRCRAFT. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT HE ENCOUNTERED AN EXTREMELY SEVERE SUDDEN DOWNCRAFT AND HIT THE GROUND AT A HIGH-RATE OF DESCENT DUE TO THIS DOWNDRAFT. THE IIC COORDINATED WITH THE NTSB WHO CONCURRED WITH CATEGORIZING THIS AS AN ACCIDENT.  THE ROOT CAUSE FOR THIS INCIDENT WAS WEATHER-RELATED, AND THE NTSB CONCURRED WITH THIS ASSESSMENT.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB WPR24LA058](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR24LA058), Nov 27, 2023: Cessna 172P (N5495K), Las Cruces, NM, substantial damage. Probable cause: An encounter with a downdraft during an approach to land, which resulted in a hard landing.

## Other reports on N5495K (2)

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.

- [Accident 20140530007589A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20140530007589A), May 30, 2014: Cessna 172P (N5495K), Bluffton, OH, Substantial damage. On final approach to runway 5, at approximately 60 knots, a "slight" gust of wind lifted the right wing causing the aircraft to drift to the left. The aircraft…
- [Accident 19880507013049A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19880507013049A), May 7, 1988: Cessna 172P (N5495K), Bowling Green, OH, Substantial damage. Porpoised on landing collapsing the nose gear.

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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